Effects of microstructural variations on transverse crack initiation in composites

Abstract eng:
We present a multiscale experimental and computational investigation of the effects of interphase and microstructural variations on the initiation and density of transverse cracks in carbon fiber reinforced composites. Interface and matrix properties are systematically varied by fabricating composites with a range of surface treated carbon fibers under different processing conditions. Fiber/matrix interface strength is characterized through single fiber microbond experiments. Spatial variation in interphase chemical composition is measured using a new atomic force microscope based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) technique. Composites are tested in transverse tension and the initiation and density of cracks correlated with changes in interface/interphase properties. Results from experiments are used to calibrate and compare to predictions from an interface-enriched finite element model.

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